Book IIL of Jesus Christ. x6t

The Life of a true Chriftian is indeed one concinu d Crofs ,• bur, /ince this is the Way that leads to Para- dife, it is by no means fit^ that I fhould depart from it, or repent of my holy Refolutions^ and good Be- ginnings.
Come then, my Chriftian Brethren, let us advance boldly. Courage, for Chrift is with us • he does not only lead us en , but will enable us to follow him. For his fake we have taken up the Crofs, and for his fake we muft perfevere in bearing it. Behold , the King and Captain of our Salvation marches at our head, ready to fight our Battels. Let Us, like gal- lant Soldiers, follow ; let us abandon our Fears, and manfully prepare to die in the Field ^ and not ftain our Honour and lofe our Crown , by flinching from that Service , and thofe Hardfhips, which he iiath made our Duty and our Glory.
Chap. LXIL
Againji leing deje^ed with Temptations,
Chrlfi,'] "TUdge not, my Son, of thy Favour and J Acceptance with God , by fuch fa lie Meafures, as the Warmth of thy Devotion, and the Delight which refults from the Difcharge of thy Du* ty. For I am better pleafed with Huniility and Pati- ence, and deep Contrition of Heart, in a difconfo- late and afflicted State, than with an eager Zeal, and the moft exalted Ads of an eafie and profperous Pie- ty. And whence is it, doft thou think, that every little Scandal, which detrads from thy Reputation, fo fenfibly afFeds thee i Were it yet more to thy Dif- paragement, yet could it not be worth thy Concern. This is not the firft Injury of this kind, aor is it like
S 4 to
z6S fS>l tj^e limitation Book ill.
to be the laft, if thou live longer among Men. ^ And what is now new or ftrange ought not to furprize thee. I know thy Courage and pretended Bravery, while Danger keeps its diftance ; Thou canft difcourfe like a Philofopher and a Chriftian, and give excellent Ad- vice to thy Friends, when they labour under any Di- ftrefs ; but when Their Cafe happens to be thy own, and fome unexpected Calamity comes home to thee ; thy Prudence and Refolution forfake thee quite^ and thou ftandeft no lefs in need of the Counfel and Sup- porr, which thou were wont fo freely to impart to others heretofore.
LQt this Experiment remind thee of thy own Frail- ty, which by fuch Inftances appears not to be Proof againft the flighteft Misfortunes. For even thefe In- flances are greatly for thy advantage^ and bring thee to a right and perfect underftandingof thy own Con- dition. Grow wifer atleaft at thy own expence j and as thy calmer Reafon fliews they ought to be, fo let thy Behaviour manifefl:, that thefe tender Refentments of Temporal Evils, are banifhed out of thy Mind. If thou cannot entertain Adverfity with abfolute Indiffe- rence, yet let it not drive thee to Defpondency and wicked Diftruft ,• and, however the firft Onfet may. difturb thee, yet rally quickly, and lee it not long over- power thee. And tho' perhaps thou art not arrived to Jam. I. ^^^^^ perfecfiion, 0/ counting it all Joy, when
thoiifallefi mo divcrsTemftations ,• thou canft not be excufed from undergoing them with Meeknefs and Refignation, and Patience. If thou art not yet got even thus far, but fome indecent Reflexions rife up in thy Mind, yet let not this fecret Indignation break out into irreverent Expreffions^ hut fet a Watch Pfal. cxVi. ^^P^^ ^h ^^^g^i^y ^^d keep the Door of thy Lips, andxxxix. Refolve atleaft that thy Mouth (Ijall not of- fend; and though thy Heart be hot with- in thee, yet let not any paffionate Complaints burft '^ ^ ' out.